Tourism Bureau Announces 2015-16 Sponsorship Grant Program

Charlottesville, VA
(May 1, 2015) - The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors
Bureau (CACVB) today announced the 2015-16 Tourism Sponsorship Program is now
open, with Monday, May 25, 2015 at 5:00 p.m., as the deadline for submitting completed
applications. To be considered for
funding, the activity and/or event must occur in FY16, from between July 1,
2015 - June 30, 2016, which is the new fiscal year for the CACVB.

The
purpose of this sponsorship program is to provide dollar-for-dollar matched
funding of up to $7,500 per applicant organization for "tourism-related
initiatives," provided that applicants meet the requirements and follow
prescribed guidelines and responsibilities as outlined in the CACVB Tourism
Sponsorship Program Application and CACVB Policy Statement. Those interested in applying can access
information on how to apply by going to www.visitcharlottesville.org/sponsorships.

As in previous sponsorships, the primary
focus will be given to applicants who can demonstrate that their initiative will
"increase visitation and/or exposure of the destination through promotional
efforts." Certain restrictions do
apply. For example, if an applicant has
received notification that they will receive funding from the CACVB during this
same time period from July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016, this applicant would be
ineligible for CACVB sponsorship funding (i.e. Non-Profit Marketing Funding for
Festivals as well as Signature Events).

The CACVB also stressed the importance of submitting
a complete application, as reviewers will base their decision on what is
provided. Incomplete applications will
receive a lower score and could be disqualified if material information is not provided
as instructed.

As the CACVB's mission is to attract
overnight visitation, the focus by reviewers who examine applications will be
whether the activity and/or event proposed can either attract out-of-area
visitors or extend their stay. Applicants
are encouraged to consider an event or festival during shoulder-season months,
so as to potentially increase the number of hotel stays by visitors to this
area. Off-peak, or shoulder season, is typically mid-November through mid-March
and July through mid-August, where occupancy at area hotels is lower.

About the
Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau (CACVB)
In addition to serving as the global resource for marketing the tourism assets
of Charlottesville and Albemarle
County,
Virginia, through www.visitcharlottesville.org, the CVB assists
tour operators, meeting planners, reunions and other groups in planning visits
to the destination. CACVB's mission is
"to enhance the economic prosperity of City and County by promoting, selling
and marketing the City of Charlottesville and County of Albemarle, as a
destination, in pursuit of the meetings and tourism markets." CACVB operates the Downtown Visitor Center (610 E Main St), which is open
daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as well as a touch-screen kiosk at Monticello's
Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center.